How to Learn German Language: Your Complete Guide

Want to study or work in Germany? Then learning German language can really help. This guide is made specially for Indian students who want to learn German, study in Germany for free, or get jobs in German companies. We will also tell you about the best German classes in India, apps to use, and how much time it may take.

German is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. Knowing the German language is going to immensely benefit Indian students planning to study in Germany. Indian students with prior knowledge of the German language would also be preferred during job opportunities, as they would be able to better to the German population.

Germany is primarily home to public universities and private universities. All public universities in Germany are state-funded and are free for students. They are only required to pay an administration fee ranging from 300 to 500 euros. However, there is a catch: all public universities in Germany offer a majority of their courses in German. So, international students who are looking to study in Germany for free will have to be equipped with the German language to do so. Read: Universities in Germany that Teach in English

Courses offered across private universities are primarily in the English language. However, all students who are going to Germany to pursue their higher education should know the German language. Knowledge of the German language will help students in their day-to-day activities, explore the country better, ease the settling down process, and above all, familiarity with the native language will increase the candidate’s chances of landing a job in Germany.      

Why Indian Students Should Learn German

There are many reasons for Indian students to learn the German language:

• You can apply to public universities in Germany that are free.
• It’s easier to get internships and jobs in Germany if you know German.
• Indian students with prior knowledge of the German language would be preferred for internships, part-time work opportunities, and post-study jobs in Germany for their knowledge of the German language.
• You can understand local people and make friends faster.
• You feel more comfortable in a new country.
• Even in India, you can get jobs in embassies, as a translator, or as a German language teacher.

So if you are planning to go abroad or want to do something different in your career, learning German is a great choice.

How Long Does It Take to Learn German?

Many people ask, How long does it take to learn the German language?

• If you are serious and study well, then it takes around 750 hours (about 30 weeks) to learn the basics.
• But most Indian students take 2 to 2.5 years to reach a good level (B2 or C1).
• It depends on your practice, motivation, and how much time you give.

Don’t rush. Focus on speaking and understanding German, not just grammar.

Check: Top 10 Best Foreign Languages to Learn for Students

Is German a Hard Language for Indian Students?

No. Learning the German language is not hard. Learning any language requires time and commitment. Candidates who are willing to put in the required dedication and commit to practising their German every day will be able to learn the language in the shortest time.

How to Learn the German Language Easily?

In this section, we are going to be discussing guidelines on how to learn the German language easily.

1. Candidates are advised to have a strong purpose that should be driving their desire to learn the German language. Motivation fades over time purpose remains.
2. Candidates looking to learn German should surround themselves with people who are also in the process of learning the German language. This is a good method of practising your German and also measuring your progress.
3. Students should look at enrolling for German classes being offered by universities or Goethe Institutions to get the best coursework for their German lessons.
4. Candidates can also look at revising their German language skills with the help of apps such as Duolingo and Babbel.
5. Students looking to learn German should devise fun methods to learn the German language. Students should look at joining online forums or chat groups where aspiring students gather and discuss how to learn German and practice the language at the same time. This way they would be effectively learning a new language and also enjoying the process.
6. Indians looking to learn German should practice their German daily. This includes watching German films and documentaries, reading German books and periodicals, listening to German music or podcasts and conversing with German speakers.

How to Learn German Language in India?

Indian students are advised to learn German in India rather than in Germany as it is cheaper to learn the German language in India and the presence of a familiar support system will only make the process more enjoyable. For those wondering, learning a short language course in Germany could cost an Indian student anywhere between 720 - 850 euros (approx) which is about INR 65,000 - INR 70,000. In comparison, candidates looking to learn German in India would have to spend about INR 28,000 - 30,000 for the course. However, candidates can learn the German language in India. Candidates can check out language and short courses on the official DAAD website.

In this section, we are going to be talking about the various techniques that can be adopted to learn the German language in India for students.

Learn German Language in India - Max Mueller Bhavan

Goethe-Institut - the cultural organization of the Federal Republic of Germany is responsible for promoting the German language outside of Germany. The Goethe-Institut has set up multiple Goethe Instituts (institutions) and Goethe Centers for students who are looking to learn the German language in India.

Students who are planning to learn German can check out the nearest ‘Goethe-Instituts’ - German language institutions and learning centres spread across the length and breadth of the country. Students learning the German language in India can also get a taste of German culture and can enrol for the multiple online and in-person classes offered by these learning institutions.

How to Learn German Language: German Language Institutions in India (Max Mueller Bhavan)

To give Indian students looking to learn German in India an idea of the kind of classes that are held in Goethe-Instituts - German language institutions in India. Let us take the example of the German Classes being offered by Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan – Bangalore.

Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan – Bangalore – Online Classes

These are 100% online session-based live virtual classroom training

Goethe-Institut Max Mueller Bhavan – Bangalore – In-person Classes

These are in-person classroom sessions which are similar to online but in-person classrooms

Candidates should note that the above schedule is only for classes that are available for Goethe-Institute Max Mueller Bhavan – Bangalore. Other centres could host classes in different frequencies and there could be a difference in German language fees. The above is to give you an idea of the frequency and price range for learning German in India.

How to Learn German Language – German Language Courses in India

Candidates can also look at learning the German language from Indian universities and colleges. Students can take up a German course as a diploma, or a certificate course and pursue the foreign language as a full-time programme across universities in India.

How to Learn German Language: Courses offered in German at Indian Universities

Given below is the list of courses offered in German:

How to Learn German Language: Indian Universities offering German

There are close to 100 universities both private and public that offer German undergraduate, postgraduate, MPhil and PhD programmes in India. Popular universities from where students can study the German language in India include

• Jawaharlal Nehru University
• Delhi University (DU)
• IGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open University
• Amity University, Noida
• Visva Bharati University
• Calcutta University
• Banaras Hindu University
• University of Mumbai [MU]
• Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University
• University of Madras

How to Learn German Language for Free

In this section, we are going to be talking about how to learn German language for free. Today, German language classes are available online, over podcasts and through apps on mobile phones. While they have not been able to replace the in-person classes provided by universities in India or Goethe-Instituts. However, studying the German language with the help of apps has only made the language-learning process much smoother.

Popular ‘How to Learn German in India’ Online free apps include Duolingo and Babbel. Both these apps require candidates looking to learn the language to create a profile and learn their language of choice. The online learning apps would need the candidate to provide their reason for learning the German language which could be learning German for education, Learning German for tourism or simply Learning German as a hobby and the preparatory material would be tailor-made as per their response.

Candidates can also look at learning German by themselves for free by visiting https://learngerman.dw.com/de/learn-german/s-9095 or by listening to Podcasts at https://learngerman.dw.com/de/podcasts/s-61934454 Candidates can also test their current German language skills by taking a free German language test here: https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/kur/tsd.html

What is the level of German Indian Students needed in Germany for studying?

How to Learn German Language: We have provided an extensive guide on How to learn German. However, candidates would be interested to know how much German is enough to study in Germany. Indian students looking to study German for education should note that if your course is in German, you need to know the language well enough to follow a lecture or seminar discussion.

Knowledge of the German language is measured on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Broadly speaking the CEFR is concerned with assessing progress in learning a foreign language and has 6 levels in the framework. German Knowledge Level between B2 and C2 in the CEFR scale would allow you to apply to all German universities without any obstacles.

CEFR – Overview

• A1 – Beginner
• A2 – Basic knowledge
• B1 – Advanced language use
• B2 – Independent use of language
• C1 – Expert language skills
• C2 – Almost native language skills

Start your German Language Classes with Shiksha - Basics

How to Learn German Language: Candidates can check out German pronunciations of English alphabets, commonly used German words and their meanings in English and a handful of German phrases and their English meanings for you to kick-start your German with us. All the Best!

Useful Links: Letters in the Greek Alphabet

Candidates looking for assistance with German university admissions can get in touch with our Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors on our website. Readers with queries can get in touch with us in the comments section below.

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